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how to balance (1 Viewer)
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jm1234567890
Premium Member
balancing equations is a natural talent... like 4unit maths
only practice will make perfect.
the is no real "method" to do it
only practice will make perfect.
the is no real "method" to do it
That is not true. Practise is important, but there are introductory methods.
Balancing equations, you need to take note of two important things:
1. Whether the number of atoms of a particular element are equal on both sides (mass balance)
2. Whether the charge on both sides of the equation are equal.
(charge balance)
I am not sure what sort of balancing tips you want, but for simple ones, like the Haber Process,
H2 + N2 <=> NH3
you need to balance that
in this case, u don't need to consider charge since everything's netural. you have to consider the number of atoms.
now you think to yourself how would i balance number of H atoms on both sides? the lowest common multiple is 6 for both sides.
So LHS = 3H2 + N2 RHS = 2NH3
3H2 + N2 <=> 2NH3
in this exam, N atom numbers are balanced. However in many cases they might not be. That was just a rather simple example of how to balance simple equations.
As for charge balance, I don't think they'd ask you for really hard ones, it comes handy when you are doing oxidation reduction balancing.
Do you have any specific examples u want to do?
Balancing equations, you need to take note of two important things:
1. Whether the number of atoms of a particular element are equal on both sides (mass balance)
2. Whether the charge on both sides of the equation are equal.
(charge balance)
I am not sure what sort of balancing tips you want, but for simple ones, like the Haber Process,
H2 + N2 <=> NH3
you need to balance that
in this case, u don't need to consider charge since everything's netural. you have to consider the number of atoms.
now you think to yourself how would i balance number of H atoms on both sides? the lowest common multiple is 6 for both sides.
So LHS = 3H2 + N2 RHS = 2NH3
3H2 + N2 <=> 2NH3
in this exam, N atom numbers are balanced. However in many cases they might not be. That was just a rather simple example of how to balance simple equations.
As for charge balance, I don't think they'd ask you for really hard ones, it comes handy when you are doing oxidation reduction balancing.
Do you have any specific examples u want to do?
Last edited:
jm1234567890
Premium Member
"now you think to yourself how would i balance number of H atoms on both sides? the lowest common multiple is 6 for both sides."
That is exactly my point!
How did you "know" to consider the H first?
hmmm.... you could also have considered the N in this example
However, in more complex examples if you consider the wrong atom first it wont balance.
That is exactly my point!
How did you "know" to consider the H first?
hmmm.... you could also have considered the N in this example
However, in more complex examples if you consider the wrong atom first it wont balance.
No one is a born genius who naturally knows how to balance. It's good to give ppl tips, albeit how trivial it may seem, it might help.
And your second point is right, that's why it depends on what sort of equations you talking about.